The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-04
CATHOLIC TEETOTALERs,
Opening the Convention With a High
Mass.

MASS.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Aug. 3.-The dele
gates to the seventeenth General Convention
OF the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of
America, before entering upon business,
proceeded in body to the cathedral to en-
gage in the solemn services of high mass.
Ihe delegates numbered about 400, and
among them were many of the reverend
clergy, who are active members Of the total
abstinence societies. Archbishop RYAN was
the ceIebrant of pontifcal high mass.
bishop Moore of st. Augustine, Fla. occu-
pied a seat within the chancel The music
OF the mass was finely rendered, and when
all the lights were abaze, the scene present.
ed was one of unusual brilliancy. The SER
mon was preached by Rev. James M.
Cieary, Of Keno5ha, Wis, President of tho
Catholic Total Abstinence Union Of Amer
lca, who took the place of Bishop Ireland,
OF Minnesota. The latter was unavoidably
detained at home, and only at the last mo-
mont was it learned that he could not be
present.
OPENING THE SESSION.
The convention met at the Walnut Street
Theatre at o'clock and was called to order
by the President, Rev. James Cleary, who
opened the session with prayer.
Reports We're presented from subordinate
entered the theatre, was received with
much applause, and motion to suspend
the order of business and listen to Mr. Pow
DERBY was adopted. That gentleman, how
ever, said that he merely appeared to
CRAFTY the desire of the delegates to
see INN, and that he would speak at the
public meeting at the Academy Of Music in
the evening. The report Of General Score
tary Nolan showed that there were now
affiliated with tho trcrarol
two subordinate unions and fifty detached
societies. During the year there have been
admitted l40 societies and 235 were dropped
leaving the present number at 757 with q
membership Of 80 ga, an Increase of 6,891,
Several letters OF regret were read and in
Vltatlons received and accepted to visit
various places OF interest.
A TELEGRAM TO THE POPE.
On motion of Rev. j. T. Conaty, the fol-
lowing telegram, signed by the President,
was directed to he sent to Pope Leo XIII,
The seventeenth general convention Of
the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of
America, deeply grateful for the encourage
ment given to total abstinence by the recent
brief, asks again your fatherly blessing in
its work.
The Committee on Credentials reported
342 delegates in attendance
After the appointment of committees on
constitutional amendments and resolutions,
the convention adjourned until tomorrow
morning.
THE NIGHTS SPEECHES.
Fully 5000 people crowded the Academy
of Music this evening, one-third of the
audience consisting of ladies' On the plat
form were seated many of the visitors and
invited guests Of the union. Among these,
aside from the speakers of the evening, were
Secretary Litchman, of the Executive
Board of the Knights of Labor: John W.
Hayes, of the Executive Board of the
Knights of Labor; State Senator McAleer;
Rev. j. j. Elcock. Of Philadelphia; and
Rev. P: A. McKenna, of Marlboro,
Mass. The speeches of the evening
were characterized by wide range
OF thought on the temperance question, and
considering the condition of the mercury.
were marked by acceptable brevity. The
address of Rev. Thomas j. Conaty of Wor
cester, Mass, referred particularly to the
progress of the Irish race i'll the Northeast.
The Boston of to-day, he said, was not the
Boston of Winthrop, but the Boston of the
O'Briens and CollinseS. The Irish
there had made record of which they
might well be proud, and they were deter
mined now to be sober men, and to be in
their lives what God destined they should be.
Master Workman Powderly, of the
Knights of Labor, i'll the course of
his remarks, stated that he had never
tasted Intoxicating liquor. He had been
among all nationalitieS, and had always
found that the one great curse of life was
in5emperance. Wherever he found mis-
fortune and sorrow he could trace its
source to liquor. Among the speakers
were Rev. Walter Elliott, of New York;
Hon j. p Thompson, of Louisville, Ky;
Rev Patrick Corrigan, of Hoboken, n. j.,
and John O'Brien, of saltwater, Mimi,
President of the State Union who brought
the evenings addresses to a close in an ear
nest appeal i'll behalf Of temperance.